Happy New Year, and Happy Anniversary!  Your Charlottesville Bicycle Club has been a tax-exempt, member-supported organization now for four years!  Thanks to all members for your continued support.  What a terrific fourth year it has been…  The club scheduled more than 280 road and gravel group rides.  We socialized at coffee rides, happy hours, picnics, and potlucks, and enjoyed the company of friends.  We participated in Charlottesville Bike Month activities.  A dozen riders attended CBC’s first organized weekend getaway in Roanoke.  The club’s members supported Charlottesville Community Bikes (contributing a substantial portion of the nearly $4,000 raised at the annual fundraiser).  And critically, the club continued to advocate for road safety for the benefit of all area cyclists by promoting hands-on safe riding classes (thank you, Peter Aaron!).  To our more than 180 members, thank you for joining us on this journey.

Looking forward to the club’s fifth year, we plan to focus on three key areas: 

—  Encourage participation.  Our strength comes from the members who join our rides, contribute to the club, and serve as ambassadors for our organization.  To keep CBC moving forward, consider helping with club activities and rides.  Help organize rides of all classes, especially D (or casual) paced rides.  Become an advocate for cycling interests in our community.  Most of all, come out and ride, and encourage your friends to join the fun.  The more we actively participate, the more others will come along as well.  

—  Promote safe cycling.  Safety will remain paramount for the club.  We hope to continue to provide access to safe cycling classes, and will highlight tips to encourage best group riding practices.  As always, the club urges all members to ride as a cohesive, organized group that looks after each other.

—  Develop community and cohesiveness.   One of the great joys of helping run this club is watching deep friendships develop among our members.  CBC member Tom Brassard recently put it best…

         “When my wife and I moved here three years ago, one of the first things I did was look up the local bike club and join.  Not only are the rides, scenery, and exercise exceptional, but I have made so many wonderful new friends who are welcoming, and have made the move here from out of state easier and enjoyable. When it comes up in conversation, I readily tell people that this was one of the best decisions made since moving to Charlottesville.”

Look for more opportunities in the year ahead to enjoy the company of fellow riders through group rides and non-riding social events.   

Have a comment or idea for what we can do better?  We’d love to hear from you.

The club couldn’t do what it does without your continued support, so please renew your annual membership.  Again, thank you.

Club Finances – Speaking of support, your annual dues literally make CBC possible.  Since launching CBC 2.0 four years ago, the club has been financially stable.  As you might imagine, though, bike clubs throughout the country are now dealing with increased operating costs.  To give just one example, the cost of liability/medical insurance paid by CBC per member climbed an astonishing 53% from 2022 to 2025. 

To give a sense of where your money goes, here is a quick breakdown of how the club currently allocates your $30 dues:

     Insurance         — 46%
     IT/website         — 23%
     Picnic/social      — 19%
     Fees                  —  7%
     Misc.                  —  5%

Our goal is for CBC to be financially sustainable over the long term while providing excellent support for our members.  Going into 2026, despite some cost pressures, we plan to maintain member dues at the current $30 level, assuming membership levels stay relatively constant.  We’ll continue to look at the club’s finances and make any necessary adjustments in the future to ensure the club stays in good health.

January Safety Chat – Winter Bike Check.  One of the most important factors in your safety is the condition of your bicycle. Winter is a
great time to schedule maintenance, and local bike shops, including our sponsors Blue Wheel Bicycles and Blue Ridge Cyclery, offer winter service overhauls. Consider getting your bike in soon to avoid delays getting it back. I’ve got a sneaky feeling we might have an early spring!  Quick winter bike checklist:

• Saddlebag check: Tools can rust and may need oiling. Tubes can wear through while stored. Make sure your spare tube still holds air.
• Chain and drivetrain: Check chain wear with a chain tool, clean thoroughly, and lubricate. Consider whether it’s time to replace the cassette or chainrings.
• Tires and wheels: Look for tread wear, cuts, or sidewall damage. Replace tires over two seasons old, even if they look okay. Replenish tubeless sealant if applicable and check that wheels are true.
• Cables: Inspect cables and housings for damage, especially near the rear derailleur and brakes.
• Replace worn cables if shifting or braking isn’t smooth. Check electronic shifter batteries if applicable.
• Brakes: Inspect pads for wear (use a flashlight). Disc brake pads should have at least 1 mm remaining. Check for rubbing, looseness, and rotor trueness. Hydraulic brakes may need bleeding.
• Frame and finishing touches: Clean the bike thoroughly and inspect the frame for damage. Replace handlebar tape if needed.

Coffee Club – We have rides that end with the opportunity to have coffee with your fellow riders.  But let’s try getting together OFF of the bike for coffee and conversation with your fellow club members.  Join us for our first get together on January 9, 2026 at 10:00 AM at C’ville Coffee at 1301 Harris Street.  We’ll try this out through the winter months and see if you want to continue after it gets a little warmer.

Happy Hour – CBC’s next happy hour is January 15, 4:30-6:30p at club sponsor Random Row Brewing Company.  Discounts available to club members.  See the calendar for details.

Winter Potluck, Save the Date – CBC will host its annual winter potluck on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at the Baldwin Center in North Garden.  See the calendar for details. 

Three Notch’d Trail Shared Use Path Master Plan – Albemarle County is seeking community feedback on proposed route options for the Three Notch’d Trail.  Learn about this exciting opportunity, review the specific route proposals, and provide your comments at this link.  Your input is critical to make this dedicated shared use path a reality.

Jerseys available – The following extra short sleeved jerseys are available for purchase: classic women’s medium (1), and classic men’s large (1).  Jerseys cost $66 and can be paid for electronically, or with check or cash.  Please contact us if you would like to buy or try one on.

                                                         

Our thanks to CBC members who renewed this past month: Paul Webster, Bill Lowe, Michael Wisinski, Chet Seapy, Alice Fletcher, Connie Hendy, Harvey Regan, Jeff Deacon, David Wilkes, Christy Hamlin, Mark Szalwinski, Jim Rogers, Bob Devereaux, Andrew McDonald, Chris Hendy, Chris Curtis, Todd Stansbury, Peter Aaron, Dennis Houmard, Tim Sherburne, Carol Wisinski, Patti Cary, John Post, and Dale Dudley.

The CBC